The Heart of God in the Tanakh (Jewish Scripture)

“HaShem saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented HaShem that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His Heart” (Torah – Bereshit [Gn] 6:5-6).

“Noah builded an altar unto HaShem; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt-offerings on the altar. And HaShem smelled the sweet savour, and HaShem said in His Heart: ‘I will not again curse the ground for man’s sake, for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth, neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done” (Torah – Bereshit [Gn] 8:20-21).

“He is wise in Heart, and mighty in strength, who hath hardened himself against Him and prospered?” (Ketuvim – Eyov [Job] 9:4).

“Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews. Thou hast granted me life and favour, and Thy providence hath preserved my spirit. Yet these things Thou didst hide in Thy Heart, I know that this is with Thee, if I sin then Thou markest me, and Thou will not acquit me from mine iniquity” (Ketuvim – Eyov [Job] 10:11-14).

“What is man that Thou shouldest magnify him, and that Thou shouldest set Thy Heart upon him? And that Thou shouldest remember him every morning, and try him every moment?” (Ketuvim – Eyov [Job] 7:17-18).

“HaShem bringeth the counsel of the nations to nought, He maketh the thoughts of the peoples to be of no effect. The counsel of HaShem standeth for ever, the thoughts of His Heart to all generations” (Ketuvim – Tehilim [Ps] 33:10-11).

“What can David say yet more unto Thee concerning the honour which is done to Thy servant? for Thou knowest Thy servant. O HaShem, for Thy servant’s sake, and according to Thine own Heart, hast Thou wrought all this greatness, to make known all these great things” (Ketuvim – Megilot – Divrei Yamim A [1 Chr] 17:18-19).

“Behold, a storm of HaShem is gone forth in fury, yea, a whirling storm; it shall whirl upon the head of the wicked. The anger of HaShem shall not return, until He have executed, and till He have performed the purposes of His Heart, in the end of days ye shall consider it perfectly” (Neviim – Yermiyah [Jer] 23:19-20, 30:23-24).

“I have trodden the winepress alone, and of the peoples there was no man with Me; yea, I trod them in Mine anger, and trampled them in My fury, and their lifeblood is dashed against My garments, and I have stained all My raiment. For the day of vengeance that was in My Heart, and My year of redemption are come” (Neviim – Yisheyah [Is] 63:3-4).

“HaShem said unto Jehu: ‘Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in Mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in My Heart, thy sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel” (Neviim – Melachim B [2 Kgs] 10:30).

“They shall be My people, and I will be their G-d. And I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me for ever, for the good of them and of their children after them. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put My fear in their hearts, that they will not depart from Me. Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land in truth with My whole Heart and with My whole Soul. For thus saith HaShem: ‘Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them” (Neviim – Yermiyah [Jer] 32:38-42).

“The word of HaShem came unto me, saying: ‘Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyre. Thus said the L-rd God: because thy heart is lifted up, and thou hast said: I am a god, I sit in the seat of G-d, in the heart of the seas, yet thou art man and not G-d, though thou didst set thy heart as the Heart of G-d…” (Neviim – Yechezchial [Ez] 28:1-2).

“But now thy kingdom shall not continue; HaShem hath sought Him a man after His own Heart, and HaShem hath appointed him to be prince over His people, because thou hast not kept that which HaShem commanded thee” (Neviim – Shmuel A [1 Sam] 13:14).

“I will raise Me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in My Heart and in My mind; and I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before Mine anointed for ever” (Neviim – Shmuel A [1 Sam] 2:35).

“Return, O backsliding children, saith HaShem; for I am a lord unto you, and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion; and I will give you shepherds according to My Heart, who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding” (Neviim – Yermiyah [Jer] 3:14-15).

“How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? How shall I surrender thee, Israel? How shall I make thee as Admah? How shall I set thee as Zeboim? My Heart is turned within Me, My compassions are kindled together. I will not execute the fierceness of Mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim, for I am G-d and not man, the Holy One in the midst of thee; and I will not come in fury” (Neviim – Treisar – Hoshea [Hos] 11:8-9).

“HaShem appeared to Solomon the second time, as He had appeared unto him at Gibeon. And HaShem said unto him: ‘I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before Me: I have hallowed this house which thou hast built, to put My Name there for ever; and Mine eyes and My Heart shall be there perpetually” (Neviim – Melachim A [1 Kgs] 3:2-3).

“Now Mine eyes shall be open, and Mine ears attent, unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I chosen and hallowed this house, that My Name may be there for ever; and Mine eyes and My Heart shall be there perpetually” (Ketuvim – Divrei Yamim B [2 Chr] 7:15-16).

Reference

Jewish Publication Society of America. (1917). The Holy Scriptures according to the Masoretic text.